Given the personnel losses that occurred at the end of the 2013-14 season, Arizona State was expected to have some issues this season. And that was the case ahead of Saturday’s game against in-state rival No. 6 Arizona, as Herb Sendek’s Sun Devils had a record of 11-11 overall and 3-6 in Pac-12 play. However Arizona State played arguably its best game of the season against the Wildcats, using a balanced offensive effort to pull off the 81-78 upset win.

This is the second straight year in which Arizona State has beaten Arizona in Tempe, with a Jahii Carson dunk capping a wild (and controversial) win last season.

The issue for Arizona on Saturday was their defense, as Arizona State managed to shoot 50 percent from the field and 7-for-15 from beyond the arc. The Sun Devils were balanced offensively, with four players scoring between 14 and 18 points, but it was senior Bo Barnes who made the difference in the second half. Of his career-high 18 points Barnes scored 13 in the second half, and he also made all eight of his free throw attempts.

Add in freshman point guard Tra Holder, who scored ten of his 15 points in the first half and continued his recent run of solid play, and Arizona State more than held its own on the perimeter. The Sun Devils entered the game ranked ninth in the Pac-12 in points per possession (0.98; conference games only). They averaged 1.125 points per possession against the Wildcats who, while there aren’t as good defensively as they were a season ago, are still formidable on that end of the floor.

T.J. McConnell scored 25 points and dished out four assists for Arizona, shooting 11-for-19 from the field, but that number of shot attempts is too high for him. Arizona also managed to convert 18 offensive rebounds into 13 points, but that wasn’t enough to cover up for either their defense or the fact that starting center Kaleb Tarczewski scored just two points on 1-for-6 shooting.

Last year’s team, which featured current pros Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon, was able to buckle down defensively and thus cover up for their offensive deficiencies. This team doesn’t consistently defend at that level, and it can get them in trouble when faced with a team that can find and make decent looks. Whether it was Holder in the first half, Savon Goodman early in the second or Barnes down the stretch, Arizona State was able to win some individual battles offensively. That allowed them to establish the working margin needed to pull off the upset.

In that regard this loss looked similar to Arizona’s first loss of the season at UNLV, as they were unable to match up with either Rashad Vaughn or Christian Wood.

If Arizona is to get Sean Miller to his first Final Four, that has to change between now and mid-March. Arizona State’s ceiling obviously isn’t that high, but on Saturday they were the team that executed better. With that being the case, Sendek’s Sun Devils were rewarded with their biggest win of the season to date.

With two scholarships available for the 2014-15 season, Arizona State has reportedly made an addition to its roster. As first reported by Chris Karpman of ASUDevils.com the program has landed a commitment from former UNLV forward Savon Goodman, who will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Goodman averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in his lone season at UNLV, playing in 27 of UNLV’s 35 games in 2012-13. But his time in Las Vegas was cut short by off-court issues, and although Goodman attended Indian Hills CC in 2013-14 he did not play for the school’s highly regarded basketball program. That decision preserved a season of eligibility for Goodman.

Goodman becomes the sixth newcomer expected to join the Arizona State program, with two being junior college transfers. The Sun Devils lost an awful lot from last season’s NCAA tournament team, with Jahii Carson foregoing his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the 2014 NBA Draft and center Jordan Bachynski and guard Jermaine Marshall both out of eligibility.

In addition to that productive trio Herb Sendek lost Egor Koulechov and Brandan Kearney, with both making the decision to transfer. Arizona State did receive some good news Friday, as wing Shaquielle McKissic was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA.

Haller’s tweet regarding Goodman used the word ‘involved’, and as we mentioned on Friday evening, the Sun Devils have quite a few open scholarships for next season. Other than Richie Edwards, Jahii Carson, Jermaine Marshall and Jordan Bachynski, ASU will also lose Bo Barnes, Calaen Robinson, and potentially Shaquielle McKissic — coach Herb Sendek will need a plethora of extra bodies just to make it through practice (and that is even with a large incoming recruiting class).

Goodman’s role at UNLV was solely off the bench, but despite his nine or so minutes per game, there were consistent flashes of Goodman’s potential. Reports about UNLV’s practice, or observations during open gyms and workouts, gave the impression that Goodman could be an impact player if he just got the minutes. If Arizona State is indeed the place for the forward, the playing time is certainly available.

Goodman, a former UNLV player and top 100 recruit, was initially charged with misdemeanor conspiracy and felony burglary and grand larceny. He’ll have to repay $1,370 in restitution, serve 200 hours of community service and will be on probation for a year.

Goodman was a bit player for the Rebels in 2012-2013, averaging 3.6 points and 2.4 boards. Dave Rice announced that he wouldn’t play during the 2013-2014 season back in August and Goodman left the team in October.

In late August it was announced by UNLV head coach that while sophomore forward Savon Goodman would remain a member of the UNLV program, he would sit out the entire 2013-14 season in order to properly address off-court issues. Chief among the concerns was an arrest on charges including first degree burglary and grand larceny, with Goodman being accused of stealing sneakers, money and video games from a friend.

“I have enjoyed my time at UNLV and am thankful for the support of the fans, my teammates and coaches since I have been here,” Goodman said in the release. “However, I have felt a lot of pressure the last few months. I feel it is best for me to leave the program at this time. Even though I am from Philadelphia, I will always think of Las Vegas as another home.”

Goodman played an average of nine minutes per game last season, accounting for 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest. With Anthony Bennett now in the NBA and Mike Moser deciding to transfer to Oregon, it looked as if Goodman was in line for an increase in playing time this summer. But then the August arrest occurred, ruling him out for the upcoming season.

Goodman’s preliminary hearing in the case will take place on November 12, and it will be interesting to see where he winds up college-wise.

Over the weekend, UNLV reserve forward Savon Goodman was charged with two felonies, first degree burglary and grand larceny. Head coach Dave Rice didn’t kick Goodman, who averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 boards, off the team, but he did announce that the rising sophomore would not be playing during the 2013-2014 season.

Taylor Bern, who covers UNLV for the Las Vegas Sun, got a hold of the police report from the May 18th incident that led to the arrest, and it doesn’t look good for Goodman:

Goodman went into a friend’s apartment in a complex in the 3800 block of Swenson Street. He was there without permission and fled through a patio door when the resident heard noises and went to investigate. The victim said Goodman was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood over his head, but Goodman’s eyes and face were clearly visible. Goodman and the victim both made eye contact.

After Goodman left, the victim continued to check the apartment when he heard additional footsteps and then the front door unlock, open and quickly close.

“We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information,” Rice told the Sun on Saturday night. “I will not have any specific comment until we know more. Having said that, regardless of the resolution, at the very least Savon Goodman will not play this season so he can focus on getting his priorities in order.”

The good news for UNLV is that they have plenty of depth in the front court, especially after picking up Jamal Aytes last week.

Rice had previously said that he didn’t intend to use his final open scholarship, vacated by Katin Reinhardt’s decision to transfer, so I wonder if Aytes has Goodman to thank for his spot on the UNLV roster.